گر بدادی تشنه را بحری زلال ** در کرم شرمنده بودی زان نوال
If he had given an ocean of limpid water to a thirsty man, such was his generosity that he would be ashamed of (bestowing) that gift;
ور بکردی ذره‌ای را مشرقی ** بودی آن در همتش نالایقی
And if he had made a mote (as full of splendour as) a place of sunrise, (even) that would (seem) to his lofty aspiration (to) be an unworthy action.
بر امید او بیامد آن غریب ** کو غریبان را بدی خویش و نسیب 3020
That poor stranger came (to Tabríz) in hope of him, for to poor strangers he was always (like) a kinsman and relative.
با درش بود آن غریب آموخته ** وام بی‌حد از عطایش توخته
That poor stranger was familiar with his door and had paid innumerable debts from his bounty.
هم به پشت آن کریم او وام کرد ** که ببخششهاش واثق بود مرد
In reliance upon that generous (patron) he ran into debt, for the (poor) man was confident of (receiving) his donations.
لا ابالی گشته زو و وام‌جو ** بر امید قلزم اکرام‌خو
He had been made reckless by him (the Inspector) and eager to incur debts in hope of (being enriched by) that munificent sea.
وام‌داران روترش او شادکام ** هم‌چو گل خندان از آن روض الکرام
His creditors looked sour, while he was laughing happily, like the rose, on account of that garden (abode) of generous souls.
گرم شد پشتش ز خورشید عرب ** چه غمستش از سبال بولهب 3025
(When) his (the Moslem's) back is warmed by the Sun of the Arabs, what does he care for the moustache (vain bluster) of Bú Lahab?
چونک دارد عهد و پیوند سحاب ** کی دریغ آید ز سقایانش آب
When he has a covenant and alliance with the rain-cloud, how should he grudge water to the water-carriers?
ساحران واقف از دست خدا ** کی نهند این دست و پا را دست و پا
How should the magicians who were acquainted with God's Hand (Power) bestow (the name of) hands and feet upon these hands and feet?
روبهی که هست زان شیرانش پشت ** بشکند کله‌ی پلنگان را به مشت
The fox that is backed by those lions will break the skulls of the leopards with his fist.
آمدن جعفر رضی الله عنه به گرفتن قلعه به تنهایی و مشورت کردن ملک آن قلعه در دفع او و گفتن آن وزیر ملک را کی زنهار تسلیم کن و از جهل تهور مکن کی این مرد میدست و از حق جمعیت عظیم دارد در جان خویش الی آخره
How Ja‘far, may God be well-pleased with him, advanced alone to capture a fortress, and how the king of the fortress consulted (his vizier) as to the means of repelling him, and how the vizier said to the king, “Beware! Surrender (it) and do not be so foolhardy as to hurl thyself upon him; for this man is (Divinely) aided and possesses in his soul a great collectedness (derived) from God,” etc.
چونک جعفر رفت سوی قلعه‌ای ** قلعه پیش کام خشکش جرعه‌ای
When Ja‘far advanced against a certain fortress, the fortress (seemed) to his dry palate (to be no more than) a single gulp.
یک سواره تاخت تا قلعه بکر ** تا در قلعه ببستند از حذر 3030
Riding alone, he charged up to the fortress, so that they (the garrison) locked the fortress-gate in dread.
زهره نه کس را که پیش آید به جنگ ** اهل کشتی را چه زهره با نهنگ
No one dared to meet him in battle: what stomach have the ship's crew (to contend) with a leviathan?
روی آورد آن ملک سوی وزیر ** که چه چاره‌ست اندرین وقت ای مشیر
The king turned to his vizier, saying, “What is to be done in this crisis, Counsellor?”
گفت آنک ترک گویی کبر و فن ** پیش او آیی به شمشیر و کفن
He replied, “(The only remedy is) that you should bid farewell to pride and cunning, and come to him with sword and shroud.”
گفت آخر نه یکی مردیست فرد ** گفت منگر خوار در فردی مرد
“Why,” said the king, “is not he a single man (and) alone?” He (the vizier) replied, “Do not look with contempt on the man's loneliness.
چشم بگشا قلعه را بنگر نکو ** هم‌چو سیمابست لرزان پیش او 3035
Open your eye: look well at the fortress: it is trembling before him like quicksilver.
شسته در زین آن‌چنان محکم‌پیست ** گوییا شرقی و غربی با ویست
He sits (alone) on the saddle, (but) his nerve is just as unshaken as if an (army of the) East and West were accompanying him.
چند کس هم‌چون فدایی تاختند ** خویشتن را پیش او انداختند
Several men rushed forward, like Fidá’ís (desperate assassins), and flung themselves into combat with him.
هر یکی را او بگرزی می‌فکند ** سر نگوسار اندر اقدام سمند
He felled each of them with a blow of his mace (so that they were hurled) headlong at the feet of his steed.
داده بودش صنع حق جمعیتی ** که همی‌زد یک تنه بر امتی
God's (creative) action had bestowed on him such a collectedness that he was attacking a (whole) people single-handed.
چشم من چون دید روی آن قباد ** کثرت اعداد از چشمم فتاد 3040
When mine eye beheld the face of that (spiritual) emperor, (all) plurality vanished from my sight.”
اختران بسیار و خورشید ار یکیست ** پیش او بنیاد ایشان مندکیست
The stars are many; though the sun is one, (yet) on his appearance their foundation is demolished.
گر هزاران موش پیش آرند سر ** گربه را نه ترس باشد نه حذر
If a thousand mice put forth their heads, the cat feels no fear or apprehension of danger.